5 Steelers players on the roster bubble ahead of OTAs

Marcus Allen, inside linebacker

Marcus Allen is a player who has already had some difficulty sticking on this roster in the past. The Steelers were forced to cut him and add him to the practice squad in each of his first two seasons before finally suiting up for 14 games with the team last year. However, just when Allen thought his role with the organization might be expanding, he seems to be very much in danger of losing his roster spot again in 2021.

Pittsburgh used a 4th round pick to grab Texas A&M linebacker Buddy Johnson this offseason. While Johnson is far from a perfect prospect (hence his day-three draft status), he offers an intriguing amount of athletic upside, and his draft position would suggest that he’s essentially a roster lock in 2021, barring something unforeseen.

This means that Marcus Allen will likely be battling it out with a player like Ulysees Gilbert. Gilbert is a little bit younger than Allen and has more upside as a coverage linebacker, but injuries have derailed his career early on. If he can stay healthy, Allen could be the odd man out and could be headed to the practice squad once again.